
CAT result 2025 was announced on December 24, 2025. This year, 12 candidates have scored 100 percentile, whereas 26 candidates scored 99.99 percentile. The number of 99.98 percentilers is also 26. Most of the CAT 2025 toppers are from engineering background. 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for the exam on November 30, 2025. The exam was conducted by IIM Kozhikode and difficulty level was moderate.
IIM PI shortlists 2026 for several campuses have been released. IIM CAP and IIM JAP cut offs have been released. IIM Rohtak has started registration for PI shortlisting. IITs have also started MBA registrations for 2026 batch. Last date to apply is January 31, 2026. The exam was held on November 30 in three sessions. Read all about CAT 2025 exam.
- CAT 2025 Exam Highlights
- CAT 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule
- What is CAT Exam?
- CAT Exam Result and Scorecard 2025
- IIM CAT Cut Offs
- CAT Answer Key 2025
- CAT 2025 Syllabus and Pattern
- CAT Exam Preparation 2025
- CAT Question Paper PDFs Download (Previous Years)
- CAT 2025 Admit Card
- CAT Registration 2025
- CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
- IIMCAT Contact Information
- Important FAQs on CAT 2025
CAT 2025 Exam Highlights
CAT is India's top MBA entrance exam. The competition is very high and preparation requires about 6 to 9 months. Candidates who wish to appear for the CAT must make sure they are capable of dedicating so much time to it. Here are the key CAT 2025 highlights for reference:
| CAT Exam Particulars |
CAT 2025 Details |
|---|---|
| CAT Full Form |
Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Institute for 2025 |
IIM Kozhikode |
| Exam Level |
National |
| CAT Entrance Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
| CAT Exam Date 2025 |
November 30, 2025 |
| CAT Result Date 2025 |
December 24, 2025 |
| CAT Exam Timings |
|
| CAT Exam Fees |
INR 2,600 (General category) and INR 1,300 (Reserved category) |
| Eligibility Criteria |
Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD students) |
| Number of Applications |
2.95 lakh (in 2025) |
| Number of Test Takers |
2.58 lakh (in 2025) |
| Exam Purpose |
Admission to IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,300 B-Schools in India |
| Courses Offered |
|
| CAT syllabus |
|
| CAT exam mode |
Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs |
| No. of test cities |
170 |
| CAT exam website |
|
| Exam helpdesk no. |
1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free) |
Also read: CAT exam on screen calculator
Commonly asked questions
CAT score is valid for one year at the IIMs and top B-Schools. In some tier 3 and government institutions, CAT score of previous two years are also acceptable. Many B-schools including IIMs have an option of deferment of admission, wherein you can confirm your admission and pay the nominal fee but join the batch in the next year. It is advised that candidates take admission in the same year as their CAT attempt so that they don't have to reappear next year. Given the competition in MBA space, it is difficult to get a good college whether you have a low score or average score. So, incase one is getting a good college, they should take admission and not drop a year to appear for CAT again.
CAT result 2025 was announced on December 24, 2025. It usually gets declared by December 19-20, but this year it has been delayed a bit. The CAT 2025 result cum scorecard will be available for download at iimcat.ac.in.
Yes, you can apply for CAT. The main criteria of eligibility for CAT is graduation from a recognised university. So, whether the education mode is full-time or correspondence, if the university is recognised by the UGC, the candidates will be eligible to appear for the CAT exam.
Having a good academic profile for IIM admission is very critical. The top 6 IIMs lay a lot of emphasis on Class 10 and Class 12 score for selection of candidates for WAT-PI round. The academic profile is evaluated again at the time of preparation of final merit list. It has been seen in the past that some candidates despite having 99+ percentile, were not selected for PI round due to low score in Class 12.
The academic profile is assessed for academic as well as gender diversity. Which means a candidate who studied Arts in Class 12 may be selected for PI with lower marks than a candidate who studied Science in Class 12.
Candidates aiming for IIMs must know that while the importance of academic profile is very important for top IIMs, it is moderately important for rest of the IIMs. For, other top MBA colleges, overall profile matters more than academic score. So, if you do not have superlative scores in Class 10 and 12, build a good profile with work experience and extra curricular activities to increase your chances of selection.
CAT 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule
Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of CAT 2025 exam
| Dates | Past Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 24 Dec ' 25 | CAT 2025 result announcement |
| 08 Dec ' 25 - 10 Dec ' 25 | CAT 2025 answer key challenge |
| To Be Notified | CAT 2025 answer key release |
What is CAT Exam?
CAT is a business aptitude test conducted by the IIM for admission to MBA and other postgraduate courses offered by its 22 campuses (IIM Guwahati is the newest campus launched this year). CAT is an assessment of candidates on their skills in Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA).
The exam is a national level exam and its score is accepted by top B-schools other than the IIMs, such as FMS, MDI, IIFT, SPJIMR, GIM, BIMTECH, IIT-DoMs among others. According to Shiksha, over 1300 MBA colleges in India, accept CAT score for MBA admission.
Also Read:
IIM Raipur releases IIM JAP 2026 cut offs
IIM Bodhgaya release IIM CAP 2026 cut offs
IIM Rohtak announces CAT 2025 cut off, starts registration for PI 2026
CAT 2025 registration dips; 2.95 lakh candidates apply
Courses Offered Through CAT at IIMs
Apart from full-time MBA programmes, the CAT score is valid for admission to Executive MBA, PhD and FPM programmes of IIMs and other B-Schools. This exam is open for not only graduates but also post graduates and working professionals. Check below the list of courses offered by the IIMs through CAT and MBA seats offered.
| IIM |
Courses Offered Through CAT |
Number of Seats |
|---|---|---|
| PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGD-ABA (ePost Graduate Diploma in Advanced Business Analytics), PhD |
PGP-385 |
|
| MBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, EMBA, M.Sc. in Data Science (MSDSM) jointly offered with IIT Ropar, PhD |
MBA-240 |
|
| PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PhD |
PGP-430 |
|
| MBA, MBA (Digital Business Management), MBA (Hospital and Healthcare Management), PhD |
MBA-120 |
|
| MBA, PhD |
MBA-462 |
|
| PGP, PGP-HRM, MSDSM (Master of Science in Data Science and Management) |
PGP-451 |
|
| MBA, MBA (Hospital Administration & Healthcare Management), Executive MBA, PhD, PhD (Working Professionals) |
MBA-350 |
|
| MBA, MBA (Analytics), EMBA, EMBAA (Executive Master of Business Administration Analytics), PhD |
MBA-321 |
|
| PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM, EPGP-IL, EPGP Kochi, PhD, Fellow Programmes in Management PhD (PT) |
MBA-484 |
|
| MBA, MBA-ABM, MBA-SM, PGPWE, PhD |
MBA-436 |
|
| IIM Mumbai |
MBA, MBA (Operations and Supply Chain Management), MBA (Sustainability Management), PhD, PhD (Executive) |
MBA-278 |
| MBA, E-MBA, PhD, E-PhD |
MBA-267 |
|
| MBA, PhD, PhD (Practice Track) |
MBA-377 |
|
| MBA, MBA-HRM, MBA (Business Analytics), PhD, EPhD |
MBA-246 |
|
| PGP, EPGDSM, PGPx, PhD |
MBA-399 |
|
| MBA, Executive MBA, MBA for Working Professionals, PhD, Executive PhD |
MBA -197 |
|
| PGP, PGPEX, PGP (WE), Doctoral Program, Doctoral Program (WP) |
MBA -382 |
|
| MBA, MBA (Tourism Management), MBA (Travel, Tourism and Hospitality), ExMBA, ExMBA (Digital Transformation & Analytics), MBA (Family Business), PhD, PhD (Executive) |
MBA- 281 |
|
| PGPM (MBA), PGPM-HR (MBA-HR), PGPBM (MBA for Working Executives in Chennai), PhD, Executive PhD |
MBA-378 |
|
| MBA, MBA- DEM (Digital Enterprise Management), MBAGSCM (Global Supply Chain Management), Executive MBA (Online), PhD |
MBA-361 |
|
| PGP, EMBA, PGPMCI, PhD, Executive PhD |
MBA-383 |
Also Read: CAT 2025 important dates
Commonly asked questions
14 candidates have scored 100 percentile in CAT 2024, out of a total of 2.93 Lacs candidates. Out of 14 toppers, 1 is a woman candidate. Check below CAT 2024 result data:
Check the below table for data and statistics of CAT 2024 test takers and toppers.
| CAT Toppers | Gender and Discipline | State |
|---|---|---|
| 100 percentiles 14 - Nos | Female - 1 Male - 13 Engg – 13 Non-Engg – 1 | Andhra Pradesh 1 Delhi 2 Haryana 1 Kerala 1 Maharashtra 5 Odisha 1 Rajasthan 1 Telangana 2 |
| 99.99 percentiles 29 -Nos. | Female - 2 Male - 27 Engg – 25 Non-Engg - 4 | Chandigarh 1 Delhi 4 Gujarat 2 Haryana 1 Karnataka 3 Kerala 1 Madhya Pradesh 1 Maharashtra 5 Odisha 1 Punjab 1 Rajasthan 3 Tamil Nadu 1 Telangana 1 Uttar Pradesh1 Uttarakhand 1 West Bengal 2 |
| 99.98 percentiles 30-Nos | Female - 1 Male - 29 Engg – 20 Non-Engg -10 | Bihar 1 Delhi 2 Gujarat 2 Haryana 4 Karnataka 4 Madhya Pradesh 3 Maharashtra 3 Tamil Nadu 2 Telangana 3 Uttar Pradesh 2 West Bengal 4 |
On an average, about 10-15 CAT aspirants score 100 percentile. Given below is the data of CAT 100 percentilers of last 3 years:
Exam year | CAT 100 percentilers | State wise numbers |
|---|---|---|
CAT 2024 | 14 | 1- Andhra Pradesh |
CAT 2023 | 14 | 1 – Andhra Pradesh |
CAT 2022 | 11 | 2 - Delhi 1 - Gujarat 1 - Haryana 1 - Kerala 1 - Madhya Pradesh 2 - Maharashtra 2 - Telangana 1 - Uttar Pradesh |
If you have a very good CAT score but poor academic record it is quite likely that you may not be shortlisted for top IIMs as the institutes prefer candidates with overall consistency in academics. Class 12 scores holds a lot of importance in shortlisting of candidates for WAT-PI.
In the last one month before the CAT exam, candidates must start focusing on the most important topics. These may include strong and weak areas. Practice sample questions from these topics and do not start any new topic. Here's what to do in the last month of CAT preparation:
· Attempt CAT mock tests regularly and anaylse your performance. Spend time on filling the gaps.
· Practice time management through time bound practice sessions and mock tests
· Attend online study groups for problem solving and doubt clearing sessions.
· Keep revising key concepts and formulas of CAT. Have a daily session of 2 hours for revision only.
· Solve previous years' question papers to understand the trends of past years and work on topics that appear most frequently.
· Attempt official IIM CAT mock test to know the expected CAT 2025 exam pattern
· Focus on your health. It is very important to stay healthy in this phase so that your study time is not affected. Sleep well and take breaks from study to indulge in a hobby or a recreational activity to relax.
CAT Exam Result and Scorecard 2025
Commonly asked questions
CAT toppers are determined on the basis of candidate percentiles. Those whose overall percentiles are 100 and 99.99, they are declared the toppers of CAT exam. To calculate CAT percentiles, raw scores of every CAT candidate is normalized on the same scale and the following formula is applied:
P = (R/N) * 100
where,
P= Percentile score
R= Rank of the candidate arrived at on the basis of scaled CAT score or the total number of test takers ranking below a particular candidate.
N= Number of candidates who appeared in CAT exam (all three sessions)
After the declaration of CAT results, IIMs and other top MBA colleges start the candidate shortlisting process. The institutes fix CAT cut offs category wise and invite applicants to appear for Written Ability Test, Group Discussion GD and Personal Interview PI rounds for MBA Admission. In case of IIMs, the institutes release PI shortlist form which the candidates have to fill before a certain deadline. In the PI form, candidates have to mention their personal, academic and professional details along with CAT score. Depending on the application received and the range of CAT scores the institutes the shortlist candidates for What-GD-PI. The What-GD-PI round is conducted by the institutes individually in March and April in online or offline mode. With the result of What-GD-PI and candidates' overall profile, the institutes finalise the list of students for admission. Offer of admission letters to selected candidates are sent via email in May.
CAT cut offs for non-IIMs is usually lower than IIMs.
Top MBA College | CAT Cut Offs (percentile) |
|---|---|
FMS, Delhi | 98-99 |
IIFT Delhi | 95-99 |
SPJIMR, Mumbai | 95-99 |
IMT, Ghaziabad | 95-97 |
JBIMS, Mumbai | 96 |
MDI, Gurgaon | 97-99 |
IMI, New Delhi | 90 |
XIM, Bhubaneshwar | 91 |
GIM Goa | 85 |
K J Somaiya, Mumbai | 86 |
TAPMI, Manipal | 80 |
FORE, New Delhi | 85 |
IFMR, Chennai | 80 |
IRMA, Anand | 80 |
MICA, Ahmedabad | 80 |
LIBA, Chennai | 70 |
XIME, Bangalore | 70 |
Yes, the CAT results for all the exam slots are announced on the same day.
IIM CAT Cut Offs
CAT cut off for IIM admission is the minimum score required for selection to PI round. While the qualifying CAT cut offs range between 85 and 90 percentile (General category), the final cut offs are much higher. For the top IIMs, the final CAT cut offs are usually between 98-100 percentile, whereas for other IIMs, the cut offs range between 90-97 percentile. The cut offs vary category wise as well. Given below is the table indicating qualifying CAT cut off percentiles of 21 IIMs:
| IIM |
CAT cut offs (qualifying) |
|---|---|
| 95 |
|
| 95 |
|
| 85 |
|
| 90 |
|
| 85 |
|
| 90 |
|
| 95 |
|
| 80 |
|
| 92 |
|
| 92 |
|
| 92 |
|
| 85 |
|
| 75 |
|
| 92 |
|
| 92 |
|
| 92 |
|
| 92 |
|
| 85 |
|
| 92 |
|
| 92 |
|
| 94 |
*The CAT cut off percentiles mentioned in the above table are of General category. For the SC/ST/OBC/PWD/EWS categories, the cut CAT cut offs are lower.
Need Help with identifying the best college for you? Chat with Shiksha Counsellor and get a personalized list matching your preferences.
Get Free CounsellingList of IIMs for MBA/PGP Courses
CAT scores are accepted by 21 IIMs. These institutions accept CAT score mainly for MBA/PGDM, PhD, FMP and ePGP. You can visit the links in the below table to know admission cut offs, placements, fees, rankings and selection process of each IIM:
| List of IIMs Accepting CAT Score |
|---|
| 1. IIM Calcutta |
| 4. IIM Lucknow |
| 6. IIM Indore |
| 7. IIM Shillong |
| 8. IIM Rohtak |
| 9. IIM Ranchi |
| 10. IIM Raipur |
| 11. IIM Udaipur |
| 12. IIM Nagpur |
| 14. IIM Kashipur |
| 16. IIM Bodh Gaya |
| 17. IIM Amritsar |
| 18. IIM Sambalpur |
| 19. IIM Sirmaur |
| 20. IIM Jammu |
| 21. IIM Mumbai |
Also Read: MBA colleges accepting CAT score
IIM Fees for MBA – Campus Wise
IIM MBA fees is on the higher side. While highest fee is INR 27 lakh (IIM Calcutta) lowest fee is INR 14 lakh (IIM Mumbai). Below is the list of MBA/PGP programme fees of each IIM. The fee is to be paid in instalments semester wise. First instalment is to be paid at the time of admission. The IIMs provide assistance for financial aids and scholarships to meritorious students.
| IIM campus |
PGP/MBA seats (approx.) |
*MBA/PGP fees |
|---|---|---|
| 385 |
INR 24.61 lakh |
|
| 430 |
INR 24.50 lakh |
|
| 210 |
INR 27.00 Lakh |
|
| 436 |
INR 20.70 lakh |
|
| 375 |
INR 20.50 lakh |
|
| 210 |
INR 16.10 lakh (excluding boarding fees) |
|
| 260 |
INR 19.00 lakh |
|
| 240 |
INR 17.60 lakh |
|
| 60 |
INR 17.58 lakh |
|
| 180 |
INR 21.00 lakh |
|
| 120 |
INR 13.08 lakh |
|
| 240 |
INR 17.50 lakh |
|
| 120 |
INR 15.50 lakh |
|
| 60 |
INR 15.75 lakh (including fees for international immersion programme) |
|
| 120 |
INR 17.15 lakh |
|
| 60 |
INR 16.00 lakh |
|
| 120 |
INR 17. 50 lakh |
|
| 210 |
INR 17.30 lakh |
|
| 130 |
INR 18.00 lakh |
|
| 451 |
INR 21.14 lakh |
|
| 660 |
INR 14.00 lakh |
*The fee amount For every IIM mentioned in the table above has been rounded off to the nearest lakh. IIM fees may increase in the new academic session.
Also Read: IIM fees & scholarships
Top Colleges Accepting CAT Score (non-IIMs)
Along with IIMs, about 1,300 more MBA colleges in India accept CAT score for admission. Given below is the list of top MBA colleges in India accepting CAT score. The list also includes IITs that offer MBA programme through their Department of Management Studies.
| Top Non-IIMs Accepting CAT Score |
|---|
| 2. IIFT Delhi |
| 4. MDI, Gurgaon |
| 9. IMI-Kolkata |
| 10. ITM-University |
| 11. IIITM-Gwalior |
| 15. SPJIMR, Mumbai |
| 16. IMT, Ghaziabad |
| 17. IMI, Delhi |
| 19. IIT Roorkee-DoMs |
| 20. IIT Dhanbad-ISM |
| 21. IMT-Nagpur |
| 22. IPE-Hyderabad |
| 26. KIIT KSOM |
Also Read:
Commonly asked questions
IIM shortlist of top IIMs is released in the first week of January soon after CAT result declaration. All IIMs release their shortlist one by one after that in the same month. By the end of January, all 21 IIMs release their MBA/PGP shortlist. The WAT-PI shortlists for admission is released individually by the institutes but for the CAP participating IIMs. For them, the CAP conducting IIM releases the PI shortlist form and guidelines on behalf of rest of them.
CAT exam score has the weightage of about 40-60 per cent in IIM shortlist. The weightage varies for each IIM but is in the range of 40-60 per cent. Rest of the weightage is divided between academics, gender and work experience. However, in the final shortlist, weightage of CAT score is less than that of WAT-PI.
CAT cutoffs are usually not announced with the CAT result. The CAT cutoffs are also not released to the public.
They are published after a few days of the result announcement when the IIMs and other colleges start their shortlisting process. The IIMs opens their shortlisting window based on the CAT cut-offs two to three days after the result announcement. The CAT percentile of candidates shortlisted for the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) can be considered the cut-off for that IIM. For example, if a candidate with a CAT percentile of 99 belonging to the General category is selected for the WAT/GD-PI of IIM Calcutta, then the CAT cut-off for IIM Calcutta is 99 percentile. Only those candidates who make it to the WAT/GD-PI round of IIMs will get to know the cut-offs.
The IIM Indore cut off is usually around 95-97 percentile. The overall qualifying CAT cut off percentile for What-PI shortlisting is 90 for General category students. For EWS category too, the minimum qualifying CAT cut off is 90 percentile. However, for NC-OBC candidates the minimum qualifying cut off it is 80 percentile whereas for SC/ST candidates, it is 60 and 45 percentile, respectively. Given below are the sectional and overall qualifying CAT cut offs for Indore PGP course. Click here for detailed IIM Indore admission and selection criteria: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/iim-indore-shortlist-admission-criteria-blogId-19051.
CAT Answer Key 2025
Check below CAT answer key and response sheet download process:
Previous years' CAT answer key and question papers
Download HereCommonly asked questions
CAT cutoffs are usually not announced with the CAT result. The CAT cutoffs are also not released to the public.
They are published after a few days of the result announcement when the IIMs and other colleges start their shortlisting process. The IIMs opens their shortlisting window based on the CAT cut-offs two to three days after the result announcement. The CAT percentile of candidates shortlisted for the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) can be considered the cut-off for that IIM. For example, if a candidate with a CAT percentile of 99 belonging to the General category is selected for the WAT/GD-PI of IIM Calcutta, then the CAT cut-off for IIM Calcutta is 99 percentile. Only those candidates who make it to the WAT/GD-PI round of IIMs will get to know the cut-offs.
The candidates can check their admission status in IIM shortlist of each institute on their respective websites. The IIMs releases their shortlist on different days in the month of January. Once the shortlist is announced, candidates can check their status on the institute's website by using their CAT login ID. Such candidates can fill the PI form for participating in the WAT-PI round. If shortlisted, they are invited by the institute via email.
The CAT examination body allows candidates to challenge the official answer key. In case a candidate feels any answer shared by the examination body is incorrect, they can challenge it by filling an objection form which is released on the same day as release of the CAT answer key and candidate response sheet. The candidates can fill the objection form by using their CAT login ID and password. Check below: 1. Visit the official website of CAT exam 2. Click on 'Login' 3. Enter CAT login ID and password to sign in 4. Go to 'Objection' tab 5. Click on plus sign to add an objection 6. Check the question number from the PDF of the question paper 7. Enter relevant details 8. Upload supporting document 9. Pay objection fee through credit/debit card or net banking The objection fee is INR 1,200 per objection. Candidates can raise any number of objections. The CAT answer key objection fee will be refunded to only those candidates whose objections will be accepted. Objections that have been submitted once cannot be edited.
The main benefit of CAT answer key and response sheet is that through this document, candidates can analyse their performance in the exam. The CAT answer key contains, candidate's response as well as correct answer to every question. This can help them in calculating how much marks they will score out of the total marks. They can use that information to see how much percentile will they score, even before the result has been declared. They can use the estimated CAT score and percentile to take further decisions regarding MBA Admission such as which colleges to shortlist or which other MBA entrance exams to appear for. Taking these decisions is crucial as many colleges close their application window before the CAT result declaration. Candidates can calculate their CAT score with the help of answer key in the following way: For every correct answer in CAT three marks are awarded, which means if the candidate has got 50 answers correct, the score will be 50x3 i. e. 150 marks. For each incorrect answer, one mark is deducted. So, if a candidate has marked 10 questions incorrectly, then -10 marks will be awarded. So, the score of the candidate out of 198 (total marks in CAT will be: 150 - 10, I. e. 140. For CAT score and percentile click here: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-percentile-predictor.
CAT 2025 Syllabus and Pattern
CAT exam syllabus is broadly divided into three sections - VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Check below the main topics of CAT syllabus 2025. Maximum questions are asked from the following topics. Candidates are advised to pay special attention on these topics during exam preparation:
| CAT Syllabus sections |
CAT Syllabus topics |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary and Odd Sentence Out |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
Set Theory (Variables), Set Theory + Puzzles, Puzzles with Additional Data, Coding-Decoding and Series |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
Number System, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry and Mensuration |
Also Read:
CAT Syllabus 2025 PDF Download
| Download Free PDF of CAT Exam Syllabus by Clicking on the Link Below |
CAT Exam Pattern 2025
As per the latest notification, the CAT question paper 2025 will have MCQs and TITA questions. There will be negative marking for incorrect attempts. The exact test pattern of CAT 2025 will be known once the official CAT mock test is released. Check the highlights of CAT 2025 exam pattern below:
| CAT Paper Pattern 2025 |
|
|---|---|
| Mode of CAT exam |
Computer Based Test |
| Duration of exam |
|
| CAT exam slots |
|
| Number of questions |
66 68 |
| CAT total marks |
198 204 |
| Language of question paper |
English |
| Number of answer choices |
4 |
| Question Type |
MCQ and non-MCQ |
Commonly asked questions
Yes, CAT syllabus is difficult to crack if you do not have enough time. There are three subjects in CAT- VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Most of the candidates find RC passages tough to crack. In Quants, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry pose significant challenge during preparation. In DILR, Reasoning questions often turnout to be tricky and confusion.
Data Interpretation or DI is a sub part of CAT's second section DILR. This section has 20 -22 questions (until 2023, the totla number of DILR questions was 20, and in 2024 the number of questions was 22). Both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning questions have equal number of questions. Candidates must make sure that they prepare for both topics well as the weightage is equal and if they are ill prepared for either of the two, their score will get affected.
In the last one month before the CAT exam, candidates must start focusing on the most important topics. These may include strong and weak areas. Practice sample questions from these topics and do not start any new topic. Here's what to do in the last month of CAT preparation:
· Attempt CAT mock tests regularly and anaylse your performance. Spend time on filling the gaps.
· Practice time management through time bound practice sessions and mock tests
· Attend online study groups for problem solving and doubt clearing sessions.
· Keep revising key concepts and formulas of CAT. Have a daily session of 2 hours for revision only.
· Solve previous years' question papers to understand the trends of past years and work on topics that appear most frequently.
· Attempt official IIM CAT mock test to know the expected CAT 2025 exam pattern
· Focus on your health. It is very important to stay healthy in this phase so that your study time is not affected. Sleep well and take breaks from study to indulge in a hobby or a recreational activity to relax.
CAT Exam Preparation 2025
The preparation for CAT exam 2025 has entered the last phase. With less than a month to go for the exam now, aspirants need to do the following:
- Attempt a good number of CAT mock tests to gain control on the syllabus.
- Dedicate time on regular revision so that you're prepared for every topic.
- Practice mental maths for quick calculation.
- For Quantitative Aptitude be thorough with important CAT formulas
- DILR syllabus coverage is to be done with practice papers and sectional mocks.
- Develop short cuts and learn tricks to solve questions quickly and accurately.
- Practice a good number of RC passage from previous years' CAT question papers.
- Opt for online problem solving sessions to learn new tricks and techniques.
Check the below list of important articles on CAT 2025 exam preparation.
- CAT Preparation Plan 2025: Ultimate Tips from Experts
- CAT VARC: Strategy to Improve RC Accuracy
- Strategies to Score 99+ Percentile in CAT 2025
- 2 Months to CAT Exam: These Many Mock Tests will Optimise Your Score
- Important CAT Quant formulas
- CAT Preparation 2025: Tips From Toppers
CAT Topper Tips
Learn tips and tricks for optimising performance in the exam from CAT toppers. Check below CAT topper tips and know how the previous year toppers prepared for the exam
CAT Mock Test
Practice free CAT mock test by Shiksha to assess your preparation level. These mock tests are on par with official CAT mock test in terms of difficulty level. You can use below CAT mock tests by simply clicking on the link. These CAT mock tests have solutions and answers.
| CAT Mock Test 1 | CAT Mock Test 1 Solutions |
| CAT Mock Test 2 | CAT Mock Test 2 Solutions |
Watch video on CAT preparation:
Commonly asked questions
The best resources for Quantitative Aptitude preparation is sample papers and previous years' CAT question papers. Since both Quantitative Aptitude is all about Mathematics, it can only be mastered by having enough practice. But only solving question papers and practice papers will not be enough. You will need to first be thorough with the topics and their concepts/formulae. For that refer to books like Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha, Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha and Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Sharma. Sectional mock tests for Quants are also very important for preparation.
Usually, it is recommended to start CAT preparation about a year or nine months in advance. However, one can prepare for this exam even in six months if they put 8-10 hours daily into it. Candidates who have attempted the CAT before may not face a lot of hurdles in six-month preparation as they have a foundation in CAT preparation from previous year, but candidates who are appearing in the exam for the first time may face obstacles, mostly related to accuracy. The syllabus of CAT is vast and includes a lot of reading.
One also has to spend a lot of time in practice sessions and mock tests to be able to master all types of CAT questions - easy, moderate and tough. If you are a student of engineering/technical or commerce background you will need to pay extra attention on VARC .
However, you'll be able to manage the syllabus of DILR and Quantitative Aptitude with adequate practice of topics. But if you are a student from Arts background, it is advised to start CAT preparation much earlier because you will have to brush up a lot of Mathematics. Reading Comprehension is one subject that cannot be mastered by student belonging to any academic stream, if their English comprehension is not strong. To develop reading habit all CAT aspirants will have to start much earlier.
CAT Question Paper PDFs Download (Previous Years)
Commonly asked questions
CAT has 68 questions. Each question carries three marks. There is negative marking of minus one for incorrect attempts. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Total marks in 204.
CAT question papers are released within a week of the exam in the form of a PDF as a response sheet and answer key. Candidates who have appeared for the test are able to access the CAT question paper and answer key. The question paper of every slot is released on the same day along with candidate response sheet and official answer to all question. If any candidate needs previous year CAT question papers for preparation purpose, then they can download them from Shiksha website. We have hosted last five years' CAT question papers for aspirants to download and practice. These official CAT question papers are available for download free. You can download the CAT question paper PDFs at this link: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam-question-papers Candidates must check and practice the latest CAT question paper to know the latest exam pattern and difficulty level.
Generally, the official mock tests are available on the official website of CAT which is https./iimcat.ac.in. The examination is conducted by Indian Institutes of Management. Check out the below steps to know how get official CAT mock tests online:
- Aspirants are requested to visit the official website of CAT (https./iimcat.ac.in)
- Login in through the CAT credentials.
- Click on the "mock test" button on the left side of screen.
- Official CAT mock test is available for practise to candidates who have registered for exam.
- After that, the screen will display the instructions.
- After reading the instructions carefully, click on 'I am ready to begin' tab and start writing the exam.
Please keep checking the official website of CAT to have up-to-date information.
CAT score is a national level test and is not accepted by B-Schools outside India. For pursuing MBA in foreign countries GMAT score is accepted. Indian B-Schools accept GMAT score for admitting foreign/NRI/PIO students.
CAT is also accepted for Executive MBA, PhD, FPM and other such management programmes in top colleges in India. Similarly, GMAT is also accepted for admission to domestic students in to Executive MBA and such programmes.
CAT 2025 Admit Card
Commonly asked questions
CAT admit card is not sent to any candidate by post. Every candidate has to download their CAT hall ticket from the IIMCAT website by using their login credentials created at the time of exam registration. The announcement of release of CAT admit card is done by the exam convening IIM about 10-15 days before the exam. The CAT admit card release date is also shared beforehand so that candidates can download their admit cards in time.
The CAT admit card is a main document of identification of the candidate. It is the proof that the candidate has fill the examination form and is eligible to appear in the exam. To help in candidate identification, the following details are mentioned on every candidate's CAT admit card. Candidate's name Candidate's roll number Candidate's gender Candidate's category Candidate's date of birth Candidate's signature Candidate's photo Candidate's address Examination year Examination date Examination slot Examination timings Reporting time Test centre address Google link to locate test centre Along with these details, other information such as exam day guidelines, examination process in the test lab, items to carry, items not to carry, activities prohibited, dress code and entry process are also mentioned on the CAT admit card.
Yes, CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in three shifts. The exam was earlier conducted in 2 shifts, but since 2020, the CAT is conducted in three shifts - morning, afternoon and evening. In CAT 2025 too, there will be three slots which will be allotted to applicants in no particular order.
CAT exam slot timings will be -
- First shift: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM,
- Second shift: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and
- Third shift: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Candidates will know their allotted CAT exam centre only from the admit card. There is no way to know the test centre before the release of the CAT admit card. The examination authority allots a test centre to aspirants in the city of their first preference as mentioned in the city. So, candidates can atleast be assured that they will get a test centre in the city they had chosen as first preference in the CAT application form. However, the venue will be mentioned only on the candidate’s admit card. So as soon as the CAT admit card is released, candidates must check the test city and test centre details. In order to avoid any confusion, they must visit the centre at least once before exam day.
CAT Registration 2025
Commonly asked questions
No, the candidates do not have to pay any fee for CAT form correction. The facility is provided to candidates free of cost. However, if they have made an error in a field that will not be available for editing during form correction, then they will have to fill a fresh form before the submission deadline and pay the CAT application fee again. So, candidates must review the CAT application form before submitting to check whether they have filled all the information correctly or not. Once submitted, the form will not be editable but of photo, signature and test city.
Candidates need the following documents while filling the CAT application form:
- A recent passport size photo (color against white background)
- Scanned signature with black pen on white paper
- Any photo ID card like PAN card, Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport
- Class 10 marksheet
- Class 12 marksheet
- Graduation marksheet
- Permanent address proof
- Work experience documents Reserved category students need to upload Category Certificate along with the CAT application form. The Certificate is available on the CAT website. Candidates can download, fill it, get it attested by competent authority and upload it as PDF with the CAT application form.
- The PwD category students also have to fill the PwD form and Scribe affidavit along with the exam application form. This is necessary for getting scribe facility and PwD facility at the test centre. The CAT application form is same for students from all categories. Those belonging to a particular category (SC/ST/PwD) will be required to mention it in the relevant field of the CAT form.
There are over 170 cities where CAT exam is held. These 170 cities are spread across India consist of metropolitan cities, capital cities, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Candidate can select up to five cities for allotment of test centre. The process of test city selection is a part of CAT application process. In the CAT application form, there is a field in which candidates have to select the cities. They need to select the city of preference in order of 1 to 5. The examination authorities will try to allot the test centre in the city of first preference. Thus, candidates must fill all the five cities carefully. They must choose their home city of city of current residence as the first preference. The test city option can only be changed during the form correction window. After that, the request for change of the city will not be accepted by the exam authorities.
The CAT application fee is INR 2,600 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates. For the SC/SCT/PWD candidates, the fee is INR 1,300. Applicants have to pay the fee at the time of form filling. The application form is not accepted without the payment of fees. Candidates must also keep in mind that the CAT application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. Thus, candidates must fill their forms carefully as if they make a mistake they will have to fill the application form again and pay the fees again. There is a provision of form correction in CAT but only test centre, photo and signature can be edited in the already submitted form. In case, you, ve made a mistake in any other field, you will have to fill the form again.
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
Commonly asked questions
There is no age limit to appear for CAT. The CAT exam is open for fresh graduates as well as working professionals. Since CAT is accepted by over 1300 B-schools across India for their full-time as well as executive MBA or online professional courses, a lot of working professionals appear for the CAT to pursue such courses. CAT score is accepted by Iims for full time MBA, executive MBA and FPM programmes.
Other top MBA colleges in India also shortlist candidates for executive MBA or part-time MBA on the basis of CAT score. The minimum age limit for has to be 20 years as the minimum qualification for CAT exam graduation. Any candidate who has completed Graduation with 50 per cent aggregate (45 per cent for SC/ST candidates).
Any candidate in final year of Bachelor's degree course can appear in CAT exam. Any candidate having a professional degree like CA/CS/ICWAI with a minimum of 50 per cent in aggregate.
No, you are not eligible to apply for CAT exam until you complete your CA course and clear ICAI CA exams. In case of absence of graduation degree, candidates are required to complete the professional degree before applying. The minimum score for applying for CAT on the basis of professional degree course in 50 per cent ( 45 per cent for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
For PwD candidates, facilities in CAT exam include, relaxation of marks in graduation. The minimum score required by PwD candidate in graduation for appearing in CAT exam is 45 per cent aggregate. Apart from that, such candidates are provided scribe service at the exam centre. To avail the service such candidates have to fill the relevant form during registration process.
IIM shortlist is the list of CAT test takers who make it to the second phase of IIM admission process, which is Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). The IIM shortlist is the list of candidates who are eligible to participate in the WAT-PI rounds of IIMs for MBA admission.
IIMCAT Contact Information
For queries regarding CAT Registration, Application and Payment Processing, Document uploading please call only on 1-800-210-0175 (Toll Free) Monday to Saturday 9:00AM to 6:00PM (excluding National holidays).
Email: cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in
For Academic queries like eligibility, category and PwD certificate , please contact CAT Centre office with contact details as follows. (
Monday to Friday excluding holiday, from 9:30am to 5:30pm
Phone: +91 495 2809219 | +91 495 2809696
Email: cat2025_helpdesk@iimk.ac.in
CAT 2025 CENTRE
C/o Admissions Office
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT KOZHIKODE
IIMK Campus P.O, Kozhikode, Kerala,
PIN - 673 570
Important FAQs on CAT 2025
Commonly asked questions
Yes, the CAT accepting MBA colleges conduct either GD/PI or WAT/PI. Since MBA is a professional course about business and team management, personality assessment round is essential to ensure that the aspirant has the flair for management which can be polished during the programme. Communication skills, problem solving ability, management and leadership are essential qualities for MBA thus, every B-School conducts GD/PI or WAT/PI.
No, the students who don't make it to the IIM shortlist of a particular year, they will not be considered for admission. Such candidates can appear for CAT again the next year and try for admission. If a candidate doesn't make it to the first shortlist, they can wait for the second shortlist to release in which they might be selected.
IIM shortlist is prepared on the basis of CAT cut off, class 10 score, class 12 score, graduation score, work experience (if any). To encourage diversity in the classroom the IIMs award extra points to female and transgender candidates at the time of shortlisting as well as final selection.
IIM selection criteria for all the 21 campuses is same and includes selection of candidates through three stages. CAT score Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion GD and Personal Interview (PI) Academic record, work experience Academic and gender diversity CAT exam score is the first parameter on which candidates are shortlisted for admission. In the first state of IIM admission, the institutes shortlist candidates for WAT, GD and PI on the basis of their CAT score and class 10, 12 and graduation marks. The cut offs for shortlisting of candidates is between 95-100 percentile (for SC/ST/PwD candidates the cut offs are lower). These shortlisted candidates have to then appear for What, GD and PI round. Those who clear this round are considered for final admission. For the final selection, every IIMs takes into consideration the following aspects: CAT score What, GD and PI performance Class 10 and 12 marks Graduation marks Work experience Academic diversity Gender diversity.
CAT result is announced at the iimcat.ac.in website. Candidates who appear for the test can download their scorecards from the official website by using their login credentials. The CAT result download link is made live about 20 days after the exam. Candidates can download their scorecards by using their login credentials.
Given below is the process to follow for downloading the CAT result.
- Visit the official website of CAT exam
- Click on CAT scorecard download
- Enter your CAT ID and password
- Click on the scorecard tab
- Download the CAT result PDF
Process to check the CAT result on smart phone:
- Open a web browser on the mobile phone
- Type the url of CAT exam: iimcat.ac.in
- Click on CAT scorecard tab
- Enter your CAT application number and password
- Click on the scorecard tab to open the document
CAT Exam
Student Forum
Answered 10 hours ago
Candidates with a valid score of CAT/ GMAT/ GRE score are exempted from the written test. These candidates still need to complete the form by paying the application fees. However, these aspirants may get called for the IIM Trichy - Chennai campus PGPBM interview round.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 11 hours ago
CAT is one of the accepting exams for admission to PGDM at IPE Hyderabad. Candidates with a good score in CAT can also get a scholarship. However, CAT is not mandatory. Aspirants with a score in MAT, XAT, ATMA, GMAT or CMAT exams can also get admission in the PGDM course.
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Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 days ago
No, candidates who wish to apply for the Global MBA course at Lexicon MILE are required to clear the LAT conducted by Lexicon MILE. The CAT exam score at Lexicon MILE is only used for deciding the PGDM admissions along with several other entrance exams.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
CAT is one of the accepting exams for MBA admission at Karunya School of Management. However, it is not compulsory. Aspirants can also apply through XAT, MAT or KMAT scores. Candidates must also complete graduation to apply for MBA at KSM Coimbatore.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 days ago
CAT is one of the accepting exams for admission to MBA programme at Amity University Bengaluru. However, it is not compulsory. Aspirants can also get admission in MBA via MAT, GRE or CMAT scores. Candidates with scores in these entrance exams can also get scholarship provided they meet the criteria.
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Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 days ago
No, CAT exam is not mandatory for VIT-AP MBA admissions. Candidates who are interested in the MBA course offered by the institute can also apply through the scores in the XAT and MAT as well.
VIT-AP also accepts the scores obtained in the VITBEE for the MBA admissions. However, candidates with a high
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
No, CAT scores are not compulsory for enrollement into MBA course at IIS Jaipur. As per the info. available on the website of the institute, the institute give prefrences to those students who have secured scored in the management entrance exams, such as CAT/ XAT/ CUET PG/ MAT. Thus, CAT scores can
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, Manipur Institute of Management Studies, Manipur University does accept CAT scores for admission to its MBA course. Students can also submit scores of other national-level exams, such as MAT/ XAT/ CMAT/ GMAT/ ATMA etc.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
No, CAT scores are not compulsory for enrollement into MBA course at International School of Informatics and Management. As per the info. available on the website of the institute, the institute give prefrences to those students who have secured scored in the management entrance exams, such as CMAT/
I
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
CAT registrations generally start from the month of Aug. Candidates wanting to get into IBMR MBA course can apply with a valid CAT score. The application window closes by Sep. Both the applications for CAT exam and IBMR Kolkata MBA course are separate.
R
Contributor-Level 9
1650 Institutes accepting CAT
IIM Ahmedabad - Indian Institute of Management
Vastrapur, Ahmedabad • Public
IIM Bangalore - Indian Institute of Management
Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore • Public
IIM Kozhikode - Indian Institute of Management
Kozhikode • Public
Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi
Hauz khas, Delhi • Public

Am I exempted from IIM Trichy - Chennai Campus written test for MBA with a valid CAT/ GMAT/ GRE score?